in American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology (2006), 291(2), 532-536

To determine the role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity, we administered doxorubicin (Dox) to mice with genetic disruption of COX-2 (COX-2−/−). After treatment with Dox ... [more ▼]

To determine the role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity, we administered doxorubicin (Dox) to mice with genetic disruption of COX-2 (COX-2−/−). After treatment with Dox, COX-2−/− mice had increased cardiac dysfunction and cardiac cell apoptosis compared with Dox-treated wild-type mice. The expression of the death-associated protein kinase-related apoptosis-inducing protein kinase-2 was also increased in Dox-treated COX-2−/− animals. The altered gene expression, cardiac injury, and dysfunction after Dox treatment in COX-2−/− mice was attenuated by a stable prostacyclin analog, iloprost. Wild-type mice treated with Dox developed cardiac fibrosis that was absent in COX-2−/− mice and unaffected by iloprost. These results suggest that genetic disruption of COX-2 increases the cardiac dysfunction after treatment with Dox by an increase in cardiac cell apoptosis. This Dox-induced cardiotoxicity in COX-2−/− mice was attenuated by a prostacyclin analog, suggesting a protective role for prostaglandins in this setting. [less ▲]

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) encodes a Tax oncoprotein that is critical for both viral replication and cellular transformation. HTLV-1 Tax possesses a PDZ domain binding motif (PBM) at its C-terminus that is essential for its transforming activity in a Rat-1 model and for IL-2. Tax has been shown to interact with several PDZ domain containing proteins including PSD-95, Beta1-syntrophin, the precursor of interleukin-16, the mammalian homolog of the Drosophila discs large tumor suppressor protein Dlg, PDLIM2, Lin7, hTid1, Tip1, hScrib and MAGI3. In the 15th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Retroviruses, we will present a specificity map for the Tax/PDZ domain interactions generated using the human ORFeome 5.1. and we will focus on some of the new Tax/PDZ interactions. [less ▲]

Selection is expected to maximize an individual’s own genetic reward regardless of the potential fitness consequences for its sexual partners, which may cause sexual conflict. Although performance in ... [more ▼]

Selection is expected to maximize an individual’s own genetic reward regardless of the potential fitness consequences for its sexual partners, which may cause sexual conflict. Although performance in holometabolous insects typically diminishes with age, old male mating advantage has been documented in a few species. Whether this pattern arises from female preference for older males based on, e.g., pheromone blends (intersexual selection), or from increased eagerness to mate in older compared to younger males is currently debated. We explore the mechanistic basis of old male mating advantage, using a series of experiments including behavioral as well as manipulative approaches, in the tropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana. Consistent with the residual reproductive value hypothesis, old male mating advantage was associated with a greater eagerness to mate, evidenced by a two times higher flying and courting activity in older than in younger males. In contrast, we found only limited support for a contribution of female preference for older males based on pheromone composition, although male sex pheromones clearly do play a role in mating success. Our results suggest that male behavior may play a primary role in old male mating advantage, and that pheromones are likely of secondary importance only. Male mating success was related to higher overall pheromone titers rather than variation in a single component. A dominant importance of male behavior in determining mating success may result in sexual conflict. [less ▲]

Dissecting aneurysm is capable to induce death by cardiac complications, internal haemorrhage or acute ischemia of any organ supplied by an aortic branch. Only early and precise diagnosis can oppose the ... [more ▼]

Dissecting aneurysm is capable to induce death by cardiac complications, internal haemorrhage or acute ischemia of any organ supplied by an aortic branch. Only early and precise diagnosis can oppose the fatal evolution. [less ▲]

The occurrence of an acute myocardial infarction after non-penetrating chest trauma is an extremely rare complication. We report a case of dissection of the left anterior descending artery in a 43 year ... [more ▼]

The occurrence of an acute myocardial infarction after non-penetrating chest trauma is an extremely rare complication. We report a case of dissection of the left anterior descending artery in a 43 year old man after being punched in the chest. Using data from a literature search relish revealed 76 cases; we review the characteristics of the pathology and its incidence. We also characterize its etiology, anatomy and path physiology. We then consider the diagnostic and therapeutic implications. [less ▲]

We report the case of a 38-year-old man admitted at the emergency department for abdominal pain of abrupt onset. Computed tomographic examination revealed a spontaneous isolated dissection of the superior ... [more ▼]

We report the case of a 38-year-old man admitted at the emergency department for abdominal pain of abrupt onset. Computed tomographic examination revealed a spontaneous isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery and an anevrysm of the coeliac artery caused by the arcuate ligament. Outcome was favorable under conservative medical treatment and a three months follow-up was uneventful. This observation offers the opportunity to present recent insights concerning this pathology. [less ▲]

In this paper, the turbulence closure scheme implemented in the GHER hydrodynamic model is described in detail. Two case studies carried out in two contrasting conditions-one in the shallow, tide ... [more ▼]

In this paper, the turbulence closure scheme implemented in the GHER hydrodynamic model is described in detail. Two case studies carried out in two contrasting conditions-one in the shallow, tide dominated, north-western European continental shelf, and the other in the deep Mediterranean Sea-are used to identify the dominant terms of the equation for the turbulent kinetic energy, first theoretically, secondly from the results of the simulations. In both domains, the dominant terms are the local destruction and production terms, the vertical diffusion term and to a smaller degree, the time derivative. Advection and horizontal diffusion turn out to be negligible in most of the relevant cases for such large scale studies. This opens the way to simplifications and optimisations of the numerical models. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]